We Care Solar

No mother should give birth in the dark.

We're teaming up with Global Citizen to launch a $40M campaign to bring reliable solar power to 10,000 more health facilities across sub-Saharan Africa, so millions of women and newborns can get safe, lifesaving care.

We're grateful to AtlasDaughters and Silicon Valley Community Foundation for their early support.

Read the full story on our website: https://wecaresolar.org/global-citizen-and-we-care-solar-launch-40-million-campaign-to-bring-solar-power-to-10000-health-facilities-across-africa/

What does it really take to move a great idea from innovation to impact—and reach every woman?

That was the focus of a wonderful conversation this week at UNGA81, where We Care Solar and Pathfinder International co-sponsored the HIEx panel “From Innovation to Impact: Reaching Every Woman.”

Our panel brought together Dr. Ndola Prata, Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, Dr. Mairo Mandara, and Dr. Laura Stachel, beautifully moderated by Madhuri Mukherjee of The Bridgespan Group.

One message came through clearly: a good idea is only the beginning. To achieve lasting impact, we need evidence, government ownership, community engagement, financing, training, maintenance, and strong health systems.

And if we say we want to reach every woman, we have to include those who are the most remote, marginalized, or difficult to reach.

We left inspired by a powerful question:

What will it take—and who will take responsibility—for what we already know works to reach the woman who needs it most?

Watch the conversation here. Our panel begins at 2:46:00:
https://www.youtube.com/live/2stVCBmRhEU

Join our amazing panelists in two hours as we discuss Innovation and Impact on the side lines of the UN General Assembly. You can come in person or join via ZOOM. Hear from researchers, implementers, and government officials about whsatit takes to ensure that EVERY WOMAN can access life-saving maternal health innovations. https://www.eventbrite.ch/e/from-innovation-to-impact-reaching-every-woman-tickets-2001041718647

If you’ll be in New York City for UNGA next week, I hope you’ll join us on September 23 at 4:00 PM for a conversation I’m really looking forward to:

From Innovation to Impact: Reaching Every Woman

We have extraordinary innovations that can save the lives of women and newborns. But developing an innovation is only the beginning.

How do we get proven solutions to the women who need them most—especially those living in remote and underserved communities? How do we move from a promising idea to lasting impact at scale?

I’ll be joined by wonderful colleagues Ndola Prata, Amina Aminu Dorayi, and Madhuri Mukherjee, bringing perspectives from UC Berkeley’s Bixby Center, Pathfinder International, and The Bridgespan Group.

Together, we’ll explore what it really takes to move maternal health innovations from pilot to scale—and how we can make sure that geography doesn’t determine whether a woman has access to lifesaving care.

📅 September 23
🕓 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 New York City | UNGA Week

Please join us—and bring your ideas to the conversation.

Register here:

From Innovation to Impact: Reaching Every Woman Advancing proven maternal health solutions beyond pilots, through evidence, partnerships and systems that help reach every woman.

Meet Nélia José Tembe, a new trainee who just completed her training to become a Solar Installer in Mozambique.

Breaking into a field often seen as "for men," she shared:

"There is no such thing as men's work or women's work, but rather the work of those who study and do it well."

Nélia told us that she hopes her work inspires young women to join the growing solar energy field, particularly her daughters, nieces, and the young women in her community.

Skills aren't the only thing being built; perceptions are being challenged, and a new generation is being inspired.

🔗 If you want to support lasting change, join The Light Keepers Circle: https://lnkd.in/ehezqkJn
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Conheça Nélia José Tembe, uma nova formanda que acabou de concluir a sua formação para se tornar Instaladora Solar em Moçambique.

Ao entrar numa área frequentemente vista como "para homens", ela partilhou:

"Não existe trabalho de homem ou de mulher, mas sim existe trabalho de quem estuda e faz bem feito."

Nélia contou-nos que espera que o seu trabalho inspire jovens mulheres a integrar o crescente sector da energia solar, particularmente as suas filhas, sobrinhas e as jovens da sua comunidade.

Não é só competências que estão a ser construídas; percepções estão a ser desafiadas, e uma nova geração está a ser inspirada.

🔗 Se quiser apoiar uma mudança duradoura, junte-se ao The Light Keepers Circle: https://lnkd.in/ehezqkJn

Gloria Steinem expanded what was possible, insisting that a woman's right to safety and dignity was non-negotiable.

In doing so, she inspired countless others, including our Executive Director, Laura Stachel, to do the same.

Thank you, Gloria, for your guidance and leadership.

10 years after the Solar Suitcase installation in Monduli District, Tanzania, the lights continued to shine brightly and health workers proudly showed us the original fetal Doppler and headlamps. They told us they loved having reliable light and charging capacity and treasured their magic "yellow box." Thank you for making dreams come true!

We have successfully completed our first Solar Suitcase installation training in Mozambique! This is an important step toward strengthening local technical capacity and expanding access to reliable energy in Mozambique's health facilities.

Over 10 days, 24 technicians, including government technicians, took part in the training. As a result, Solar Suitcases were installed in 12 health units across Maputo City and Maputo Province (Matola).

This milestone represents far more than the completion of a training. It reflects strengthened partnerships, valued local knowledge and investment in a future where more health workers, mothers and newborns benefit from care delivered with reliable energy.

Installer training has begun in Mozambique!

We’re thrilled to welcome new installers supporting us to bring reliable lighting to maternal health facilities.

Stay tuned for more updates!

CMM REFORÇA SISTEMA DE ENERGIA SOLAR NAS MATERNIDADES

O Conselho Municipal de Maputo (CMM) deu início ao processo de instalação de sistemas de energia solar nas maternidades dos centros de saúde da capital, no âmbito da iniciativa Light Every Birth, implementada em parceria com a We Care Solar.

A intervenção tem como principal objectivo melhorar as condições de assistência aos partos, garantindo iluminação segura, contínua e sustentável nas maternidades, incluindo durante situações de interrupção do fornecimento de energia eléctrica.

No âmbito desta iniciativa, 15 técnicos foram formados em instalação e manutenção de sistemas solares.

A primeira fase do programa decorre entre 17 e 23 de Julho e abrange as maternidades dos centros de saúde de Chamissava, Catembe, Pescadores, 1.º de Junho, Albazine, Zimpeto, Bagamoio e Magoanine "A".

Prevê-se que a segunda fase de instalação seja concluída até Setembro do corrente ano, permitindo abranger todos os centros de saúde com maternidade no Município de Maputo.

Juntos, Vamos Abraçar Maputo: Cidade Bela das Acácias e Jacarandás!

GYAC solar suitcases installed in Kenya making ‘big impact’ - Vero News KENYA — Before the first classroom lights flickered to life, Kenyan students gathered around and marveled at solar suitcases built and asked questions including “how are they built?” and “can … Read More »